Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight (October 20/21)!

Perseid Meteor Shower III HD Video, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

Here's an article for more information:
news.yahoo.com/s/space/20091020/sc_space/getoutorionidmet...
The Orionid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show tonight into the predawn hours Wednesday, weather permitting.

This annual meteor shower is created when Earth passes through trails of comet debris left in space long ago by Halley's Comet. The "shooting stars" develop when bits typically no larger than a pea , and mostly sand-grain-sized, vaporize in Earth's upper atmosphere.

"Flakes of comet dust hitting the atmosphere should give us dozens of meteors per hour," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.

My Interview in Photographer Magazine

My Interview in Photographer Magazine, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

I can't read it, but it looks cool! Click on the photo to go see more pics from the article on Flickr...

Free Business Card Offer from MOO

How do the Free MOO Cards Look?, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

How do they turn out? Judge for yourself... mine just arrived. Double sided, high resolution, matte finish, printed on heavy cardstock, what's not to like? The only flaw is the slight white margin at the top of the photo on the contact info side.

In case you missed my notices regarding this offer on Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter (JeffSull), here's where you can get your 50 free trial business cards available here from MOO for the first 10,000 Flickr users: www.moo.com/en/partner/flickr-business-cards

Upcoming Meteor Showers for Fall 2009

Perseid Meteor Timelapse I Revised: Slower HD Video, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

As you plan where and when you might want to get out and shoot during the rest of 2009, consider the following meteor showers coming up:
Orionid - Oct 20-22
"October's new Moon also perfectly favours the Orionids at their peak in 2009. The shower's radiant, near the celestial equator, is at a useful elevation by around local midnight in either hemisphere, somewhat before in the north, so most of the world can enjoy the shower."
Northern Taurids - Nov 12
"The NTA peak has only a waning crescent Moon, however. With near-ecliptic radiants, all meteoricists can observe these streams, albeit northern hemisphere observers are somewhat better-placed, as here suitable radiant zenith distances persist for much of the night, though from the southern hemisphere, a good 3-5 hours' watching around local midnight is possible with Taurus well above the horizon."
Leonid - Nov 17
"Luckily, new Moon on November 16 ensures perfectly dark skies for covering whatever events happen"
"the 21h-22h UT apparently critical interval will fall best chiefly for sites across Asia, from the extreme east of Europe eastwards to Japan and places at similar longitudes, but with the possibility of some unusual activity at almost any stage from ~ 6h-24h UT on November 17, only European and African longitudes look set to miss out."
Geminid - Dec 13/14
"One of the finest, and probably the most reliable, of the major annual showers presently observable, whose peak this year is virtually coincident with new Moon."
More information:
skytour.homestead.com/met2009.html
www.imo.net/calendar/2009#nta

The Tuarids will peak on November 12 during the photography workshop that I'll be conducting in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks Nov 11-14:
www.MountainHighWorkshops.com

Hope you can join us!

Fall Isn't Just Colorful Leaves

I've decided not to upload most of these photos to Flickr. The site is simply too delicate to risk having people find it and trample it into oblivion!

Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra

Thursday in the Eastern Sierra, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

I arrived at North Lake October 1, only to discover that I missed the peak color by a day or two due to a wind storm that blew off the best red to yellow colors on the far hillside. The color present a few days ago seems to have partially blown off the trees, partially turned towards brown, but there were still some green leaves, leaving the possibility of more color in a few days.

You can find decent color in patches if you look hard enough, but the best color might not be until more of the green starts to change at lower elevations, perhaps late next week?

By the time I returned here Sunday morning, there was about 2-3" of snow by the lake. The same thing happened last year, a dusting of snow around the end of September, early October. It was a little heavier this time, and there were prints from a dozen horses and mules as the packer started in around dawn to rescue their customers from the likely 4-6" of snow higher up. There were about 6-8 snow-covered cars in the parking lot by the pack station, people off in the backcountry, most likely experiencing heavier snow. I'd like to see their pictures!

Watch the National Parks Special Every Night This Week!

Watch the National Parks Special Every Night This Week!, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (Eastern Sierra today).

FYI, a treat for anyone who enjoys America's national parks:
THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA by Ken Burns

Check this link for times and channels in your area:
www.pbs.org/nationalparks/tv-schedules/
Even if you missed the first episode Sunday night (Yosemite, Yellowstone, John Muir, etc.), each episode is repeated later in the week (check the schedule for details).

Here are sample showing times that I looked up for DirecTV on the West Coast:

Monday, September 28 — 08:00pm
0006 - KVIE
The Last Refuge (1890-1915)
The years 1890 to 1915, when many Americans feared industrialization would negatively impact the country's pristine lands, are recalled. With Congress yet to establish authority or appropriations for park protection, a conservation movement begins.
duration: 150 min
details: [HD] | [cc] [stereo] [ed taping rights: 1 year]

Tuesday, September 29 — 04:00am
0006 - KVIE
The Scripture of Nature (1851-1890) (repeat of Sunday's premiere)
The sumptuously filmed history of America's national parks begins in 1851, when California's beautiful Yosemite Valley started to attract people who wished to exploit the land, and others, like John Muir, who believed it should be preserved.
duration: 120 min
details: [HD] | [cc] [stereo] [ed taping rights: 1 year]

Tuesday, September 29 — 08:00pm
0006 - KVIE
The Empire of Grandeur (1915-1919)
The years 1915-19, when the conservation movement successfully pressured the federal government to create the National Park Service to oversee the nation's national parks, are recalled.
duration: 120 min
details: [HD] | [cc] [stereo] [ed taping rights: 1 year]

Wednesday, September 30 — 08:00pm
0006 - KVIE
Going Home (1920-1933)
The years 1920-33, when the automobile enabled more people to visit the national parks, are recalled. Included: National Park Service director Stephen Mather pushes to build more roads in the parks.
duration: 120 min
details: [HD] | [cc] [stereo] [ed taping rights: 1 year]

Thursday, October 01 — 08:00pm
0922 - KVIE
Great Nature (1933-1945)
The years 1933-45 are recalled. Included: the Civilian Conservation Corps are created during the Depression to undertake renovation projects in the national parks; NPS biologist George Melendez Wright pushes to reform the NPS's wildlife policies.
duration: 120 min
details: [HD] | [cc] [stereo] [ed taping rights: 1 year]

Friday, October 02 — 08:00pm
0006 - KVIE
The Morning of Creation (1946-1980)
The series finale covers the years 1946-80. Following World War II, the parks see a dramatic increase in visitors, resulting in a billion-dollar campaign to improve facilities and infrastructure.
duration: 120 min
details: [HD] | [cc] [stereo] [ed taping rights: 1 year]

UT/AZ: Hike to the Wave

Riding the Wave, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

"The Wave" in the Coyote Buttes near Page, Arizona. To get one of the 10 next day permits to hike here, I had to enter the daily 9am drawing on two consecutive days. On those days, 67 and 63 people showed up hoping to obtain a permit. On the second day they give you two chances, on the third day they give you three chances.

UT/AZ: Hike to Wahweap Hoodoos

Wahweap Hoodoos at Night, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

Light painting in southern Utah. The yellow was painted with a headlamp using an incandescent bulb, and the blue one was painted with an LED headlamp.

Trip to UT/AZ: Antelope Canyon

Light Rays in Antelope Canyon, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona. I'd like to take some people around this area in early November.

Quick Trip to UT/AZ: Hike to The Subway

Subway Slot Canyon, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

"The Subway" in Zion National Park, Utah. The sun was mostly behind clouds, so I didn't have the reflected red light from the opposing sandstone cliffs coming in the other end this time.

After a few test shots, I set my aperture down to f/22 and my ISO to "L" (50) so I could use a long exposure of 30 seconds to capture the trails of the leaves moving around in the pool. Before I print this, I should still go back and see if i can increase contrast on those leaves so they show up better.

Quick Trip to Utah & Arizona: Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire State Park, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

An overnight stop and morning shoot near Las Vegas, Nevada.

My Photography in the Second Saturday Art Walk This Saturday

VOX Sept flyer, originally uploaded by jillallyn.

I'll be joining approximately 25 photographers from the Sacramento area this Saturday to display my works during the Second Saturday Art Walk in downtown Sacramento.

If you haven't been to the Second Saturday Art Walk, it's a fun event with all kinds of art, and many galleries have musicians playing and serve hors d'œuvres. Other businesses open for business during the event as well. one of my favorite stops the last time I attended was a winery that has established itself downtown.

The gallery will be open on Saturday night from approximately 6-10pm. I'll try to be there from 6-7pm or so. Come on down to 1931 H Street and say "Hi"!

For a map to the VOX Sacramento gallery, visit their Web page: www.voxsac.com/

Day 7: Sunday and Last Night at Burning Man 2009

Fire of Fires Before the Burn, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

Sunday at Burning Man is the day when the massive wooden "temple" is burned. I rrived early to get a decent view, and used a slow shutter speed to blur the procession of people walking in front of me.

Fire of Fires by David Umlas, Marrilee Ratcliffe, Community Art Makers:
earth.burningman.com/brc/2009/art_installation/430/

Day 6: The Wind Continues and The Man Burns, Saturday

Rising from the Desert, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

After shooting things and people for several days, it was comforting to find a shot that felt more like a desert landscape. The Black Rock Desert has the ability to heal itself quickly of the footprints left the night before.

Unfortunately my tent was completely flattened by the wind on Friday afternoon, and upon returning late at night and finding the wind velocity still high, I didn't have the energy to try to plant some stakes upwind and tie it down to see if it might stay up. I slept on the platform taht I've built in the back of my (by now very dusty) minivan.

Day 5: Burning Man 2009, Venturing Out by Day

Standing Guard, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

You never know what you're going to run across at Burning Man! I ofund this guy standing under the Soma art installtion by Flaming Lotus Girls. He was standing completely still, shooting a timelapse sequence for some reason. I'll try to follow up and find out why!

Soma, by Flaming Lotus Girls:
earth.burningman.com/brc/2009/art_installation/439/

Friday night featured the "launch" of the Raygun Gothic Rocket Ship. I sat for hours waiting to see if the event would occur in the high winds, but I ran out of patience in the dust and wind and headed back to camp.

Day 4: Thursday at Black Rock City, Burning Man 2009

Rubik's Cube Resized, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

Groovik's Cube by Barry Brummitt
URL: www.groovik.com/
http://earth.burningman.com/brc/2009/art_installation/471/

Day 3: Wednesday at Burning Man 2009

Exploding in Flames, originally uploaded by Jeff Sullivan (www.MyPhotoGuides.com).

A performer spits fire on the Towers of Shiva stage at Burning Man 2009. Here's the Burning Man Earth entry for that art installation:
http://earth.burningman.com/brc/art_installation/445/

I really like the abstract quality of this shot.